Mariners recall Morse; Bay designated for assignment

The Seattle Mariners are getting a little power back in their lineup. On Monday, the team activated outfielder Michael Morse from the 15-day disabled list. He will join the team today in Boston at the start of a six-game road trip that includes a stop in Baltimore. To make room on the roster, outfielder Jason Bay was designated for assignment. Bay was the casualty of a crowded outfield with Dustin Ackley converting to the position from second base. Either Bay or Endy Chavez — both on one-year contracts — was the likely candidate to be designated with the Morse coming off the DL. Morse has been hampered this season by injuries. After starting off the season with a six homers in 11 games, he sustained a broken pinky after being hit by a pitch. He never spent any time on the disabled list, but it slowed his production at the plate. Just about the time the finger was fully healed and Morse seemed to be finding his comfort level at the plate, he suffered a strained quadriceps running the bases on May 28. Morse didn’t go on the disabled list immediately. With Justin Smoak and Michael Saunders both on the DL at the time of his strain, he tried to play through it for over 10 days. Eventually, the Mariners had not choice but to place Morse on the disabled list on June 22. He was hitting.251 (52-for- 207) with 11 home runs and 23 RBI in 56 games at the time. During his rehabilitation assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers, Morse appeared in six games, hitting .250 (6-for-24) with a double, a homer and two RBI. Bay was used mostly as a platoon player in left field. He played in 68 games this season, hitting .204 (42-for-206) with six doubles, 11 homers and 20 RBI. With the recall of Ackley, and the hot hitting of Raul Ibanez, Bay saw him playing time diminish over the past few weeks. He signed a one-year free agent contract worth $1 million in the offseason. The former Gonzaga standout is also being paid by the New York Mets this season for a previous contract. The Mariners have 10 days to trade, release or outright Bay to the minor leagues. Because of his service time, Bay can refuse an assignment to the minors.

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